Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Thanks to my friend Kev for forwarding to me this actual photo of his microwave that clearly identifies what the world must perceive "Kids Meals" to be - mac and cheese, chicken nuggets and hot dogs.

If that's kid food, what do you think those kids who are eating it regularly are going to gravitate to as grownups, let alone what they're going to feed their future children?

Parents - as far as I'm concerned it's your obligation to ensure that before your children move out, that they can cook 10, healthy, calorie-controlled, from fresh whole ingredients, meals. And if you're not there yourselves as parents - this Christmas put some cookbooks on your list.

I remember seeing those when we were shopping for new appliances recently. I vehemently refused to purchase any of them that had those options - I didn't want those words staring me in the face everyday as I try to provide healthful choices for my family. Pitiful and outright disgusting. And ditto Marianne, thanks for inspiring us to try and fix it!

Wow! Shocking... I am going to search this out in a store and question the retailer and then the manufacturer. It is true, many people think opening a box and cooking it in the microwave means they cooked. Not true.

Says who? I mostly use the microwave for reheating already cooked food, but I do also use it to do things like steam spinach and partially cook potatoes (so they don't take as long to bake in the oven).

I make about a quarter of what I eat in the microwave: reheated dal or brown rice, steamed broccoli and fish, peas, porridge/oatmeal, sweet potato, spinach etc.

Carrots and sweet potato cut up in chunks, put in a mug, and topped with a half teaspoon or less each of sweet chilli and soya sauce, then microwaved, is only divine.

If anything I think it's easier to cook healthy food in the microwave: no temptation to fry, and usually no cooking water to throw out vitamins in. The only unhealthy thing I make in it is a slice of bread topped with pesto, cheese, and cherry tomatoes.

You can buy unhealthy food to microwave, but you can buy unhealthy food to cook on the stovetop or in the oven too. Witness stovetop instant mac+cheese.

"people who are cooking actual food aren't throwing it in the microwave." Not true anonymous. Just last night, I put cauliflower in the microwave to cook in order to mash it for a topping to cottage pie. Let's try not to generalise and judge.

So true! Which is why I am developing a research program in the area of "food literacy" to ensure we mentor the next generation in this stuff - at school and home (but I think the last generation got kinda lost...)

Last year, I wrote, photographed and published a cookbook to give to my kids, friends' kids and, believe it or not, my divorced parents. The recipes were all basic, nutritionally sound, inexpensive and easy; many things that I made at home on a regular basis. It was a great project and a great gift.

Actually, it reminds me of a "mistake" I once made at a restaurant when I was on a business trip:

Generally speaking, I find restaurant portions much too large but I really hate throwing away food. Sometimes, if I'm staying somewhere for a few days and have a little fridge in my room, I ask for a doggie bag. But if I can find something that's served in a smaller portion, that's what I order.

So, there I was at a Hungarian restaurant just behind the Hilton Hotel in London, Ontario and they offered child-size portions of schnitzel. "Yeah hooray", said I and ordered. Unfortunately, the dish I was served did indeed have a smaller portion of schnitzel...but it was accompanied by fries and nothing else. My bad. I forgot: children must be served fries. Any other vegetable just won't do. NOT!!!

And instead of making a big deal of it, you simply could've asked what sides the schnitzel came with and ordered yourself a side of broccoli when told it came with fries. Simple! You know, we know these kinds of things are happening, so why not just take it in stride and deal with them simply...not by making a big deal of things!

I'm not making a big deal. I'm just making an observation on how the restaurant designed its kids' menu. Since the adult menu came with veg, I just assumed the kids' one did too. I think it's a valid comment, not a "boo-hoo, poor me" one.

Words fail me. I will have to check out the appliance section in my local store here in Edinburgh Scotland. I really hope I don't see one of those offensive microwaves. I wish you had outed the manufacturer. PS I don't own a microwave (no room).

Seems many people have never heard of Photoshop... The words "Chicken Nuggets" even stick out more than the other letters. That microwave is obviously very old simply by looking at the button design - almost 80's. When is the last time you saw "Warm" on a microwave with a red rectangle on it? Nice hoax - got people mad.

This is an old microwave: the start buttons shows a lock indicating the door cannot be opened when the microwave is activated - very old design, now obsolete. No company name visible, no model name mentioned. The white letters of "Chicken nuggets" are whiter and higher on the surface than all the other kids meal and other options. This is most likely a hoax aided by Photoshop.

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Family doc, Assistant Prof. at the University of Ottawa, Author of The Diet Fix, and founder of Ottawa's non-surgical Bariatric Medical Institute - a multi-disciplinary, ethical, evidence-based nutrition and weight management centre. Nowadays I'm more likely to stop drugs than start them. You can also follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

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